The GOP proposal, introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, would be devastating for the middle class and those most vulnerable.

“The Ryan budget puts yet another brick in the wall between the haves and have-nots,” CPC co-chairs Reps. Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Raul Grijalva of Arizona wrote in a joint op-ed.

“The Republican budget is not a blueprint for an economy that lifts up Americans who work for a living. For working Americans, it’s a proven roadmap to ruin.”

In stark contrast, the CPC proposal invests $1.9 trillion in America’s future and creates over 8 million new jobs.

In introducing their budget to lift up working families, the 70 members of the CPC recognized that good jobs are about more than just the size of paychecks. Workers also need paid overtime, sick and parental leave, and affordable health and child care.

Implements comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship

President Obama criticized the GOP’s proposal, saying it “doubles down on trickle down” by giving tax cuts to wealthier Americans and that “the theories they are putting forward are a path to prosperity for those who have already prospered.”

The president defended his budget initiatives by highlighting the post-recession health of the U.S. economy. Watch his full remarks at the City Club of Cleveland here:

“We should always have robust debate about foreign policy, but it’s unprecedented for one political party to directly intervene in an international negotiation with the sole goal of embarrassing the president of the United States.”

By undermining the president and U.S. foreign policy, Republicans played right into the hands of Iranian hardliners who want to paint the U.S. as neither a serious nor trustworthy negotiating partner.

While Iranian leaders publicly dismissed the GOP’s attempt to sabotage the negotiations, which seek a diplomatic deal to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, the letter could still do lasting damage to U.S. credibility.

“This is just another signal, coming on the heels of the partisan invitation to Netanyahu, that Republicans really aren’t interested in evaluating this deal,” said Senator Chris Murphy. “They’re just interested in embarrassing this president.”

By making the U.S. seem less reliable, the GOP’s reckless stunt could do more than derail these talks. It could also lead our European allies to abandon sanctions on Iran altogether.

If negotiations fail and sanctions end, the Republicans could have cleared a dangerous path to another war in the Middle East — which may be their intent.

“Republicans seem to be itching for war. When you sabotage the effort to reach a peace agreement by the leader of the United States of America, that is really unspeakable,” said Senator Bernie Sanders.

“Apparently, some of my Republican colleagues do not believe that two wars are enough.”

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